When There Is Nothing Left But Love

“By the time old Mr. Fuller and Ashton returned to their country, they’d offended many illegal businessmen in the region, and the plot to assassinate the Fullers came into being. While they were being hunted, they were forced to pawn everything they owned just to make it back. That necklace belonged to Ashton’s grandmother. George Fuller kept it with him all these years. Mr. Abe learned of this and used the high sentimental value of the necklace to lure Ashton to Venria.”

I was able to venture a pretty good guess as to how the rest of the story went.

Abe used the necklace as bait to get Ashton to his territory.

The appearance of me and my value to Ashton was a stroke of dumb luck.

Ashton would never have guessed that I was here, and Abe would never have guessed the relationship between Ashton and me.

Danny rose to his feet when I did not speak. “What else would you like to know?” he asked lightly.

“What is the relationship between Armond and Mr. Abe?”

“They’re business partners.”

“Kyanine?” I asked, suddenly frightened.

“Our product is mostly exported to Western Europe,” Danny smiled coldly. “Not much to Chanaea.”

“What are they partners on, then?”

“Jades.”

forgot. Venria exported an astounding variety of

readiness to leave, I didn’t feel like asking any more questions. As

and left the

his word, Abe appeared

over my bed. “You wanted to see me?” he asked, looking at me in an

sat up. “You promised me once, that if I did as

friends?” he repeated with a laugh. “You still think your life is

cares about me!” I answered, my eyes fixed

plant. “Are you his wife?” Abe asked, squinting at me. “Under these circumstances, shouldn’t you be more

abilities that you think he will

it is, you can’t go back on your word,”

an instant. “You have yourself a

ladies,” Abe instructed Dante. “When she’s healed, send

“Yes, Sir!” Dante answered.

without being in touch with Ashton. I had wanted to leave,

hope that with time,

I have never expected to have run into him

was an accident, but a

How am I supposed to

and arteries were unharmed and I began to feel like myself again only after a few days, though it hurt when I occasionally touched it. It was a gunshot wound, after all. It will leave

But it wasn’t unbearable.